How To Ship A Car

After doing the necessary research, you’re likely to lean towards one or a handful of companies that to entrust your car with for shipping. So firstly, reach out by email or telephone to a customer representative of each company you’re considering. Here, you can gauge just how credible the company truly is, based on how transparent the rep is when it comes to these questions:

• “Do you offer both open-car and enclosed-car shipping?”

• “Can you guarantee delivery in a specific number of days?”

• “Where do you park or store vehicles overnight before shipping them?”

• “What insurance can I avail of to cover for theft and damages to my vehicle during shipping?” (Reputable companies have reliable insurance that covers any type of damage, insuring from anywhere between $50k to $1M worth of damages)

There are two different ways you can have your car shipped, and it’s important to know the key differences before you proceed with purchasing a service. First, there is the open-car option, which means your vehicle will be uncovered throughout shipment. While this method tends to be chosen for its cheaper cost, it means your car runs the risk of being exposed to both natural elements and potentially extreme weather conditions during its journey by land and sea. 

On the other hand, enclosed-car shipping involves transporting the vehicle while enclosed in a trailer or covered freight area. Those who need to ship a classic or luxury car prefer this option, given the added protection it provides as their cars will be traveling cross-country and passing through rough terrains, where elements such as sand and rocks can lead to unexpected damages.

Use the website of your chosen company/companies to calculate the total cost of shipping your vehicle, which should help decide if it’s worth going through with their service. The information you’ll need to fill in includes:

• Pick-up point and destination

• The make and model of the car

• The working condition of the car (running or non-running)

• Method of shipping (open-car or enclosed-car)

Purchasing can be done over the phone or through an online booking system on the shipping company’s website. Ensure you have important details and numbers ready on hand in case they’re required during this process, such as your driver’s license and vehicle registration.

Once your purchase is confirmed, expect the company to mention that they will contact you with an available slot for shipping your vehicle. Ideally, it’s as close to your preferred date as possible. Most companies generally give customers a full week’s notice before the day their car is ready to be shipped. Alternatively, you might be able to arrange a specific date for pick-up if shipping schedules are not flexible given your situation. Be sure to contact the company regarding this option. Most likely, you will be charged an additional amount for this.

The reason for having these documents stored in your car is simple: to verify your identity and confirm that this vehicle is registered under your name. Ideally, these documents should be stored safely in the glove compartment. But the important thing is that they are easy to access and won’t get lost as your car gets taken for shipping.

This is about making the whole experience easier for both the company and yourself. By taking the measures below, you minimize the chance of something going wrong as your car is carefully handled and transported. It’ll also make it easier to check for signs of damage once shipping is completed and prove that the company is liable for them.

• Wash your car by hand thoroughly with soap, water, and a couple of clean rags.

• Leave the gas tank only about 1/8 to 1/4 full, as this will save some weight.

• Shut off the car alarm completely or, instead, temporarily disable it so that you can easily reactivate it when it’s brought back to you at the destination.

• Detach and securely store any specialty items or loose parts of the vehicle (e.g., fog lights, spoilers, ground effects). If you have wide side mirrors, have them folded back. Also, ensure the antennae are lowered and retracted.

• Check that no personal belongings are kept in the car.

Depending on the arrangement with the shipping company, you must plan to have your car ready about five minutes before the actual scheduled time for pick-up. So if you will be traveling to a location, allow some leeway for bad traffic as you’re planning the drive there. If the company is picking it up, make sure it’s ready and located in the exact street as indicated in the pick-up details. 

As part of the standard procedure, the company will have you review and sign documents including (1) a shipping invoice, (2) forms that list all payments received as well as any outstanding balance, and (3) a certificate of origin that certifies the country that the shipped good, your vehicle, is coming from.

Once that has been taken care of, remember to leave your car keys with the driver. Also, unless it’s not permitted for any reason, take photos of your car right before parting ways with it. This will be particularly helpful for comparing the conditions of your car before and after shipment. It will aid in presenting solid evidence to the insurance company if you proceed to make a claim. 

The day has finally come to reunite with your car at its destination, which the shipping company should give you proper notice for (and inform you of any delays experienced). Expect to sign the necessary forms and papers confirming payments have been finalized, and you have received your vehicle. Note that some of these documents might have been sent by email or post, depending on what has been arranged between you and the company. 

As exciting as it is to receive your car, take about 15 minutes to do a thorough inspection before getting inside to drive it. Remember that vehicles are prone to damages while they’re shipped, and the cause of damages can be anything from flying pieces of gravel or debris to the effects of a hail storm. It helps to take pictures of anything you know wasn’t there beforehand, which can be validated with photos from the very day you brought the car in for shipping.

If you think there’s any damage worth filing a claim for, go contact the shipper’s insurance company. Call them and when a representative speaks to you, describe the new damages of your car, mention the date and time of its drop-off, and if possible, provide the name and license number of the driver of the shipping truck. Additionally, they may ask if you have a written record of all damages predating the shipment, as well as photos showing the current condition of your vehicle. So have these ready to send via email as this will expedite the entire process for your claim.